10-Q 1 f10q0319_ittechpackaging.htm QUARTERLY REPORT

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2019

 

or

 

TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from _______ to _______

 

Commission file number: 001-34577

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada   20-4158835

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

identification No.)

 

Science Park, Juli Rd, Xushui District, Baoding City

Hebei Province, The People’s Republic of China 072550

(Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code)

 

011 - (86) 312-8698215
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   Yes  ☒   No  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).   Yes  ☒   No  ☐ 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting company
  Emerging growth company

  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.):   Yes  ☐   No  ☒

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class  Trading Symbol(s)  Name of each exchange on which registered
   

 

As of May 09, 2019, there were 22,022,316 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001, outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Part I. - FINANCIAL INFORMATION 1
   
Item 1. Financial Statements 1
   
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 23
   
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 35
   
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 35
   
Part II. - OTHER INFORMATION 36
   
Item 1. Legal Proceedings 36
   
Item 1A. Risk Factors 36
   
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 36
   
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 36
   
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 36
   
Item 5. Other Information 36
   
Item 6. Exhibits 36
   
SIGNATURES 37

 

i

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF MARCH 31, 2019 AND DECEMBER 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

 

   March 31,     December 31, 
   2019   2018 
ASSETS        
         
Current Assets        
Cash and bank balances  $2,625,059   $8,474,809 
Restricted cash   -    3,642,616 
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $49,173 and $58,707 as of March 31, 2019 and December 2018, respectively)   2,409,458    2,876,632 
Inventories   4,156,848    2,923,516 
Prepayments and other current assets   6,213,819    6,241,299 
           
Total current assets   15,405,184    24,158,872 
           
Property, plant, and equipment, net   167,245,378    167,829,716 
Value-added tax recoverable   2,824,809    2,810,331 
Deferred tax asset non-current   9,081,933    8,277,091 
           
Total Assets  $194,557,304   $203,076,010 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
           
Current Liabilities          
Short-term bank loans  $6,683,003   $11,802,075 
Current portion of long-term loans from credit union   2,539,541    2,491,549 
Accounts payable   1,647,286    629,054 
Notes payable   0    3,642,616 
Due to related parties   513,423    413,336 
Accrued payroll and employee benefits   305,148    213,536 
Other payables and accrued liabilities   8,723,322    10,222,796 
Income taxes payable   -    219,305 
           
Total current liabilities   20,411,723    29,634,267 
           
Loans from credit union   4,796,911    4,706,259 
Loans from a related party   2,227,668    2,185,569 
           
Total liabilities (including amounts of the consolidated VIE without recourse to the Company of $24,815,967 and $34,008,908 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)   27,436,302    36,526,095 
           
Commitments and Contingencies          
           
Stockholders’ Equity          
Common stock, 500,000,000 shares authorized, $0.001 par value per share, 22,022,316 and 21,450,316 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2019 and December 31,2018, respectively   22,360    22,360 
Additional paid-in capital   51,137,319    51,137,319 
Statutory earnings reserve   6,080,574    6,080,574 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   29,728    (3,263,952)
Retained earnings   109,851,021    112,573,614 
           
Total stockholders’ equity   167,121,002    166,549,915 
           
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity  $194,557,304   $203,076,010 

  

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

1

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2019 AND 2018

(Unaudited)

 

   Three Months Ended 
   March 31, 
   2019   2018 
         
Revenues  $17,450,292   $1,888,194 
           
Cost of sales   (17,642,758)   (2,583,502)
           
Gross Loss   (192,466)   (695,308)
           
Selling, general and administrative expenses   (2,981,473)   (3,813,794)
Loss from disposal of property, plant and equipment   -    (10,376)
           
Loss from Operations   (3,173,939)   (4,519,478)
           
Other Income (Expense):          
Interest income   58,818    44,763 
Subsidy income   -    253,281 
Interest expense   (255,269)   (403,811)
           
Loss before Income Taxes   (3,370,390)   (4,625,245)
           
Provision for Income Taxes   647,795    538,969 
           
Net Loss   (2,722,595)   (4,086,276)
           
Other Comprehensive Income          
Foreign currency translation adjustment   3,293,680    7,375,558 
           
Total Comprehensive Income  $571,085   $3,289,282 
           
Losses Per Share:          
           
Basic and Diluted Losses per Share  $(0.12)  $(0.19)
           
Outstanding – Basic and Diluted   22,022,316    21,450,316 

  

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2

 

  

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2019 AND 2018

(Unaudited)

 

   Three Months Ended 
   March 31, 
   2019   2018 
         
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:          
Net income  $(2,722,595)  $(4,086,276)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   3,930,060    3,730,585 
Loss from disposal and impairment of property, plant and equipment   -    10,376 
Allowance for bad debts   (10,704)   (22,297)
Share-based compensation expenses   -    - 
Deferred tax   (647,795)   (538,969)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   535,220    1,114,843 
Prepayments and other current assets   187,711    (2,535,170)
Inventories   (1,181,371)   (202,692)
Accounts payable   1,009,834    (129,770)
Advance from customers   -    - 
Notes payable   (3,726,504)   (2,374,507)
Due to related parties   37,265    39,575 
Accrued payroll and employee benefits   87,823    66,867 
Other payables and accrued liabilities   (326,741)   69,841 
Income taxes payable   (224,355)   - 
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities   (3,052,152)   (4,857,594)
           
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:          
Purchases of property, plant and equipment   (1,415,761)   (707,162)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities   (1,415,761)   (707,162)
           
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:          
Proceeds from related party loans   -    4,749,015 
Repayments of related party loans   -    (9,498,029)
Proceeds from short term bank loans   4,024,625    9,972,931 
Repayment of bank loans   (9,390,791)   (4,432,414)
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities   (5,366,166 )   791,503 
           
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents   341,713    471,899 
           
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents   (9,492,366)   (4,301,354)
           
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash - Beginning of Period   12,117,425     9,017,427 
           
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash - End of Period  $2,625,059   $4,716,073 
           
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:          
Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest cost  $230,953   $787,353 
Cash paid for income taxes  $224,355   $- 
           
Cash and bank balances   2,625,059    740,309 
Restricted cash   -    3,975,764 
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows   2,625,059    4,716,073 

  

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

3

 

  

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

(1) Organization and Business Background

 

IT Tech Packaging, Inc. (the Company) was incorporated in the State of Nevada on December 9, 2005, under the name “Carlateral, Inc.” Through the steps described immediately below, we became the holding company for Hebei Baoding Dongfang Paper Milling Company Limited (“Dongfang Paper”), a producer and distributor of paper products in China, on October 29, 2007, and effective December 21, 2007, we changed our name to “Orient Paper, Inc.”.

 

Effective on August 1, 2018, we changed our corporate name to IT Tech Packaging, Inc.. The name change was effected through a parent/subsidiary short-form merger of IT Tech Packaging, Inc., our wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary formed solely for the purpose of the name change, with and into us. We were the surviving entity. In connection with the name change, our common stock began being traded under a new NYSE symbol, “ITP,” and a new CUSIP number, 46527C100, at such time.

 

On October 29, 2007, pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”), the Company acquired Dongfang Zhiye Holding Limited (“Dongfang Holding”), a corporation formed on November 13, 2006 under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, and issued the shareholders of Dongfang Holding an aggregate of 7,450,497 (as adjusted for a four-for-one reverse stock split effected in November 2009) shares of our common stock, which shares were distributed pro-rata to the shareholders of Dongfang Holding in accordance with their respective ownership interests in Dongfang Holding. At the time of the Merger Agreement, Dongfang Holding owned all of the issued and outstanding stock and ownership of Dongfang Paper and such shares of Dongfang Paper were held in trust with Zhenyong Liu, Xiaodong Liu and Shuangxi Zhao, for Mr. Liu, Mr. Liu and Mr. Zhao (the original shareholders of Dongfang Paper) to exercise control over the disposition of Dongfang Holding’s shares in Dongfang Paper on Dongfang Holding’s behalf until Dongfang Holding successfully completed the change in registration of Dongfang Paper’s capital with the relevant PRC Administration of Industry and Commerce as the 100% owner of Dongfang Paper’s shares. As a result of the merger transaction, Dongfang Holding became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and Dongfang Holding’s wholly owned subsidiary, Dongfang Paper, became an indirectly owned subsidiary of the Company.

 

Dongfang Holding, as the 100% owner of Dongfang Paper, was unable to complete the registration of Dongfang Paper’s capital under its name within the proper time limits set forth under PRC law. In connection with the consummation of the restructuring transactions described below, Dongfang Holding directed the trustees to return the shares of Dongfang Paper to their original shareholders, and the original Dongfang Paper shareholders entered into certain agreements with Baoding Shengde Paper Co., Ltd. (“Baoding Shengde”) to transfer the control of Dongfang Paper over to Baoding Shengde.

 

On June 24, 2009, the Company consummated a number of restructuring transactions pursuant to which it acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Shengde Holdings Inc, a Nevada corporation. Shengde Holdings Inc was incorporated in the State of Nevada on February 25, 2009. On June 1, 2009, Shengde Holdings Inc incorporated Baoding Shengde, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the PRC. Because Baoding Shengde is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shengde Holdings Inc, it is regarded as a wholly foreign-owned entity under PRC law.

 

4

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

To ensure proper compliance of the Company’s control over the ownership and operations of Dongfang Paper with certain PRC regulations, on June 24, 2009, the Company entered into a series of contractual agreements (the “Contractual Agreements”) with Dongfang Paper and Dongfang Paper Equity Owners via the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary Shengde Holdings Inc (“Shengde Holdings”) a Nevada corporation and Baoding Shengde Paper Co., Ltd. (“Baoding Shengde”), a wholly foreign-owned enterprise in the PRC with an original registered capital of $10,000,000 (subsequently increased to $60,000,000 in June 2010). Baoding Shengde is mainly engaged in production and distribution of digital photo paper and is 100% owned by Shengde Holdings. Prior to February 10, 2010, the Contractual Agreements included (i) Exclusive Technical Service and Business Consulting Agreement, which generally provides that Baoding Shengde shall provide exclusive technical, business and management consulting services to Dongfang Paper, in exchange for service fees including a fee equivalent to 80% of Dongfang Paper’s total annual net profits; (ii) Loan Agreement, which provides that Baoding Shengde will make a loan in the aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000 to Dongfang Paper Equity Owners in exchange for each such shareholder agreeing to contribute all of its proceeds from the loan to the registered capital of Dongfang Paper; (iii) Call Option Agreement, which generally provides, among other things, that Dongfang Paper Equity Owners irrevocably grant to Baoding Shengde an option to purchase all or part of each owner’s equity interest in Dongfang Paper. The exercise price for the options shall be RMB1 which Baoding Shengde should pay to each of Dongfang Paper Equity Owner for all their equity interests in Dongfang Paper; (iv) Share Pledge Agreement, which provides that Dongfang Paper Equity Owners will pledge all of their equity interests in Dongfang Paper to Baoding Shengde as security for their obligations under the other agreements described in this section. Specifically, Baoding Shengde is entitled to dispose of the pledged equity interests in the event that Dongfang Paper Equity Owners breach their obligations under the Loan Agreement or Dongfang Paper fails to pay the service fees to Baoding Shengde pursuant to the Exclusive Technical Service and Business Consulting Agreement; and (v) Proxy Agreement, which provides that Dongfang Paper Equity Owners shall irrevocably entrust a designee of Baoding Shengde with such shareholder’s voting rights and the right to represent such shareholder to exercise such owner’s rights at any equity owners’ meeting of Dongfang Paper or with respect to any equity owner action to be taken in accordance with the laws and Dongfang Paper’s Articles of Association. The terms of the agreement are binding on the parties for as long as Dongfang Paper Equity Owners continue to hold any equity interest in Dongfang Paper. An Dongfang Paper Equity Owner will cease to be a party to the agreement once it transfers its equity interests with the prior approval of Baoding Shengde. As the Company had controlled Dongfang Paper since July 16, 2007 through Dongfang Holding and the trust until June 24, 2009, and continues to control Dongfang Paper through Baoding Shengde and the Contractual Agreements, the execution of the Contractual Agreements is considered as a business combination under common control.

 

On February 10, 2010, Baoding Shengde and the Dongfang Paper Equity Owners entered into a Termination of Loan Agreement to terminate the above-mentioned $10,000,000 Loan Agreement. Because of the Company’s decision to fund future business expansions through Baoding Shengde instead of Dongfang Paper, the $10,000,000 loan contemplated was never made prior to the point of termination. The parties believe the termination of the Loan Agreement does not in itself compromise the effective control of the Company over Dongfang Paper and its businesses in the PRC.

 

An agreement was also entered into among Baoding Shengde, Dongfang Paper and the Dongfang Paper Equity Owners on December 31, 2010, reiterating that Baoding Shengde is entitled to 100% of the distributable profit of Dongfang Paper, pursuant to the above mentioned Contractual Agreements. In addition, Dongfang Paper and the Dongfang Paper Equity Owners shall not declare any of Dongfang Paper’s unappropriated earnings as dividend, including the unappropriated earnings of Dongfang Paper from its establishment to 2010 and thereafter.

 

The Company has no direct equity interest in Dongfang Paper. However, through the Contractual Agreements described above, the Company is found to be the primary beneficiary (the “Primary Beneficiary”) of Dongfang Paper and is deemed to have the effective control over Dongfang Paper’s activities that most significantly affect its economic performance, resulting in Dongfang Paper being treated as a controlled variable interest entity of the Company in accordance with Topic 810 - Consolidation of the Accounting Standards Codification (the “ASC”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standard Board (the “FASB”). The revenue generated from Dongfang Paper for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 was accounted for 100%, of the Company’s total revenue. Dongfang Paper also accounted for 90.25% and 90.6% of the total assets of the Company as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

 

5

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, details of the Company’s subsidiaries and variable interest entities are as follows:

 

   Date of Incorporation 

Place of

Incorporation or

  Percentage of    
Name  or Establishment  Establishment  Ownership   Principal Activity
Subsidiary:              
Dongfang Holding  November 13, 2006  BVI   100%  Inactive investment holding
Shengde Holdings  February 25, 2009  State of Nevada   100%  Investment holding
Baoding Shengde  June 1, 2009  PRC   100%  Paper production and distribution
Variable interest entity (“VIE”):              
Dongfang Paper  March 10, 1996  PRC   Control*  Paper production and distribution

 

*   Dongfang Paper is treated as a 100% controlled variable interest entity of the Company.

 

However, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could cause the Company’s current ownership structure to be found to be in violation of any existing and/or future PRC laws or regulations and could limit the Company’s ability, through its subsidiary, to enforce its rights under these contractual arrangements. Furthermore, shareholders of the VIE may have interests that are different than those of the Company, which could potentially increase the risk that they would seek to act contrary to the terms of the aforementioned agreements.

 

In addition, if the current structure or any of the contractual arrangements were found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC law, the Company may be subject to penalties, which may include, but not be limited to, the cancellation or revocation of the Company’s business and operating licenses, being required to restructure the Company’s operations or being required to discontinue the Company’s operating activities. The imposition of any of these or other penalties may result in a material and adverse effect on the Company’s ability to conduct its operations. In such case, the Company may not be able to operate or control the VIE, which may result in deconsolidation of the VIE. The Company believes the possibility that it will no longer be able to control and consolidate its VIE will occur as a result of the aforementioned risks and uncertainties is remote.

 

6

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

The Company has aggregated the financial information of Dongfang Paper in the table below. The aggregate carrying value of Dongfang Paper’s assets and liabilities (after elimination of intercompany transactions and balances) in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are as follows:

 

   March 31,  December 31, 
   2019  2018 
ASSETS       
        
Current Assets       
Cash and bank balances  $2,524,546  $8,328,980 
Restricted cash   -   3,642,616 
Accounts receivable   2,409,458   2,876,632 
Inventories   4,138,999   2,906,004 
Prepayments and other current assets   6,193,652   6,219,395 
          
Total current assets   15,266,655   23,973,627 
          
Property, plant, and equipment, net   152,851,255   153,302,061 
Deferred tax asset non-current   7,460,699   6,711,412 
         
Total Assets  $175,578,609  $183,987,100 
          
LIABILITIES         
          
Current Liabilities         
Short-term bank loans  $6,683,003  $11,802,075 
Current portion of long-term loans from credit union   193,065   189,416 
Accounts payable   1,647,286   629,054 
Notes payable   -   3,642,616 
Due to related parties   244,230   203,188 
Accrued payroll and employee benefits   300,510   208,660 
Other payables and accrued liabilities   8,723,294   10,222,766 
Income taxes payable   -   219,305 
          
Total current liabilities   17,791,388   27,117,080 
          
Loans from credit union   4,796,911   4,706,259 
Loans from a related party   2,227,668   2,185,569 
          
Total liabilities  $24,815,967  $34,008,908 

  

The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries are not required to provide financial support to the VIE, and no creditor (or beneficial interest holders) of the VIE have recourse to the assets of Company unless the Company separately agrees to be subject to such claims. There are no terms in any agreements or arrangements, implicit or explicit, which require the Company or its subsidiaries to provide financial support to the VIE. However, if the VIE does require financial support, the Company or its subsidiaries may, at its option and subject to statutory limits and restrictions, provide financial support to the VIE.

 

7

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

(2) Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and notes required by the United States of America generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for annual financial statements are not included herein. These interim statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 of the Company, and its subsidiaries and variable interest entity (which we sometimes refer to collectively as “the Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”).

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and results of operations. Such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, unless otherwise noted. The balance sheet as of March 31, 2019 and the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period.

 

Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. These accounting principles require us to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We believe that the estimates, judgments and assumptions are reasonable, based on information available at the time they are made. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

 

Valuation of long-lived asset

 

The Company reviews the carrying value of long-lived assets to be held and used when events and circumstances warrants such a review. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the anticipated undiscounted cash flow from such asset is separately identifiable and is less than its carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair market value of the long-lived asset and intangible assets. Fair market value is determined primarily using the anticipated cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved. Losses on long-lived assets and intangible assets to be disposed are determined in a similar manner, except that fair market values are reduced for the cost to dispose.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company has adopted ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. It does not require any new fair value measurements, but provides guidance on how to measure fair value by providing a fair value hierarchy used to classify the source of the information. It establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy of valuation techniques based on observable and unobservable inputs, which may be used to measure fair value and include the following:

 

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2 - Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

 

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

 

8

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The Company estimates the fair value of financial instruments using the available market information and valuation methods. Considerable judgment is required in estimating fair value. Accordingly, the estimates of fair value may not be indicative of the amounts that the Company could realize in a current market exchange. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the carrying value of the Company’s short term financial instruments, such as cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts and notes payable, short-term bank loans, balance due to a related party and obligation under capital lease, approximate at their fair values because of the short maturity of these instruments; while loans from credit union and loans from a related party approximate at their fair value as the interest rates thereon are close to the market rates of interest published by the People’s Bank of China.

 

The Company does not have any assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

 

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate the possibility of impairment. For the continuing operations, long-lived assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis when there is an indicator of impairment, and they are recorded at fair value only when impairment is recognized. For discontinued operations, long-lived assets are measured at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. The fair value of these assets were determined using models with significant unobservable inputs which were classified as Level 3 inputs, primarily the discounted future cash flow.

 

Share-Based Compensation

 

The Company uses the fair value recognition provision of ASC Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, which requires the Company to expense the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant date fair value of such instruments over the vesting period.

 

The Company also applies the provisions of ASC Topic 505-50, Equity Based Payments to Non-Employees to account for stock-based compensation awards issued to non-employees for services. Such awards for services are recorded at either the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the instruments issued in exchange for such services, whichever is more reliably measurable.

 

Liquidity and Going Concern 

 

As of March 31, 2019 the Company had current assets of $15,405,184 and current liabilities of $20,411,723 (including amounts due to related parties of $513,423 and interest payable for related party loans of $653,574), resulting in a working capital deficit of approximately $5,006,539; as of December 31, 2018, the Company had current assets of $24,158,872 and current liabilities of $29,634,267 (including amounts due to related parties of $1,030,790), resulting in a working capital deficit of approximately $5,475,395. In December 2018, the Company announced commercial launch of the new 25,000 tonnes per year tissue paper manufacturing equipment PM8. Following the successful trial production, 1603 tons of tissue paper products were produced and sold in the first quarter of 2019. With the new capacity and increasing sales of paper products, the management expects that, there will be sufficient and continuous cash generated from operations and the working capital condition will be substantially improved.

 

(3) Restricted Cash

 

Restricted cash was nil as of March 31, 2019. Restricted cash of $3,642,616 as of December 31, 2018 was presented for the cash deposited at the Bank of Cangzhou for purpose of securing the bank acceptance notes from these banks (see Note (9)). The restriction has been lifted upon the maturity of the notes payable on January 10, 2019.

 

9

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

(4) Inventories

 

Raw materials inventory includes mainly recycled paper board and recycled white scrap paper. Finished goods include mainly products of corrugating medium paper, offset printing paper and tissue paper products. Inventories consisted of the following as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018:

 

   March 31,   December 31, 
   2019   2018 
Raw Materials        
Recycled paper board  $1,423,675   $412,317 
Recycled white scrap paper   623,646    611,861 
Coal & gas   170,801    167,230 
Base paper and other raw materials   363,193    164,295 
    2,581,315    1,355,703 
           
Semi-finished Goods   185,498    - 
Finished Goods   1,390,035    1,567,813 
Totals  $4,156,848   $2,923,516 

   

(5) Prepayments and other current assets

 

Prepayments and other current assets consisted of the following as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018: 

 

   March 31,   December 31, 
   2019   2018 
Prepaid land lease  $307,418   $437,114 
Value-added tax recoverable   5,871,234    5,760,280 
Others   35,167    43,905 
   $6,213,819   $6,241,299 

 

(6) Property, plant and equipment, net

 

As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:

 

   March 31,   December 31, 
   2019   2018 
Property, Plant, and Equipment:        
Land use rights  $12,110,433   $11,881,571 
Building and improvements   95,940,419    94,127,348 
Machinery and equipment   162,789,664    159,651,736 
Vehicles   608,993    597,484 
Construction in progress   5,137,243    5,005,041 
Totals   276,586,752    271,263,180 
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization   (109,341,374)   (103,433,464)
Property, Plant and Equipment, net  $167,245,378   $167,829,716 

 

As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, land use rights represented two parcel of state-owned lands located in Xushui District of Hebei Province in China, with lease terms of 50 years expiring from 2061 to 2066.

 

10

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Construction in progress mainly represents payments for improvement of the office building and essentially all industrial-use buildings in the Headquarters Compound(the “Industrial Buildings”).

 

As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, certain property, plant and equipment of Dongfang Paper with net values of $5,439,796 and $5,782,640, respectively, have been pledged pursuant to a long-term loan from credit union of Dongfang Paper. Land use right of Dongfang Paper with net values of $6,070,749 and $5,990,586 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 were pledged for the bank loan from Bank of Industrial & Commercial Bank of China. Plant and equipment of Baoding Shengde with net values of $12,939,899 as of December 31, 2018, and another land use right with net value of $4,762,300 as of December 31, 2018 were pledged for the bank loan from Bank of Cangzhou. See “Short-term bank loans” under Note (7), Loans Payable, for details of the transaction and asset collaterals.

 

Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment was $3,930,060 and $3,730,585 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. 

 

(7) Loans Payable

 

Short-term bank loans

 

      March 31,   December 31, 
      2019   2018 
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (“ICBC”) Loan 1  (a)  $-   $4,079,730 
Bank of Cangzhou  (b)   -    5,099,662 
ICBC Loan 2  (c)   2,673,201    2,622,683 
ICBC Loan 3  (d)   4,009,802    - 
Total short-term bank loans     $6,683,003   $11,802,075 

 

(a)

On February 6, 2018, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the ICBC, with a balance of $4,079,730 as of December 31, 2018. The working capital loan was guaranteed by Hebei Tengsheng with its land use right pledged as collateral for the benefit of the bank. The loan bears a fixed interest rate of 5.4% per annum. The loan was due and repaid on January 28, 2019.

 

(b)

On January 2, 2018, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the Bank of Cangzhou, with a balance of $5,099,662 as of December 31, 2018. The loan bore a fixed interest rate of 6.09% per annum. The working capital loan was secured by the Company’s land use right and guaranteed by the Company’s CEO and Baoding Shengde with its production equipment as collateral for the benefit of the bank. The loan was due and repaid on January 3, 2019.

 

 (c) On November 22, 2018, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the ICBC, with a balance of $2,673,201 and $2,622,683 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, repectively. The working capital loan is secured by the Company’s land use right as collateral for the benefit of the bank. The loan bears a fixed interest rate of 4.741% per annum. The loan will be due on November 26, 2019.
   
(d) On January 28, 2019, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the ICBC, with a balance of $4,009,802 as of March 31, 2019. The working capital loan was guaranteed by Hebei Tengsheng with its land use right pledged as collateral for the benefit of the bank. The loan bears a fixed interest rate of 4.785% per annum. The loan will due and repaid on January 30, 2020.

 

As of March 31, 2019, there were guaranteed short-term borrowings of $6,683,003 and unsecured bank loans of $nil. As of December 31, 2018, there were guaranteed short-term borrowings of $11,802,075 and unsecured bank loans of $nil.

 

The average short-term borrowing rates for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 were approximately 4.76% and 5.57%, respectively.

  

11

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

  

Long-term loans from credit union

 

As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, loans payable to Rural Credit Union of Xushui District, amounted to $7,336,452 and $7,197,808, respectively.

 

   March 31,   December 31, 
   2019   2018 
Rural Credit Union of Xushui District Loan 1  $1,277,196   $1,253,060 
Rural Credit Union of Xushui District Loan 2   3,712,779    3,642,615 
Rural Credit Union of Xushui District Loan 3   2,346,477    2,302,133 
Total   7,336,452    7,197,808 
Less: Current portion of long-term loans from credit union   (2,539,541)   (2,491,549)
Long-term loans from credit union  $4,796,911   $4,706,259 

 

As of March 31, 2019, the Company’s long-term debt repayments for the next five years were as follows:

 

   Amount 
Fiscal year     
Remainder of 2019  $2,539,541 
2020   133,660 
2021   207,916 
2022   1,633,623 
2023   2,821,712 
Total   7,336,452 

 

On April 16, 2014, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Rural Credit Union of Xushui District for a term of 5 years, which is payable in various installments from June 21, 2014 to November 18, 2018. The loan is guaranteed by an independent third party. Interest payment is due quarterly and bears the rate of 0.64% per month. On November 6, 2018, the loan was renewed for additional 5 years and will be due and payable in various installments from December 21, 2018 to November 5, 2023. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, total outstanding loan balance was $1,277,196 and $1,253,060, respectively, Out of the total outstanding loan balance, current portion amounted were $89,107 and $87,423 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, which are presented as current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet and the remaining balance of $1,188,089 and $1,165,637 are presented as non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. 

 

On July 15, 2013, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Rural Credit Union of Xushui District for a term of 5 years, which was originally due and payable in various installments from December 21, 2013 to July 26, 2018. On June 21, 2018, the loan was extended for additional 5 years and will be due and payable in various installments from December 21, 2018 to June 20, 2023. The loan is secured by certain of the Company’s manufacturing equipment with net book value of $5,439,796 and $5,782,640 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Interest payment is due quarterly and bears a fixed rate of 0.64% per month. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the total outstanding loan balance was $3,712,779 and $3,642,615, respectively. Out of the total outstanding loan balance, current portion amounted were $103,958 and $101,993 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, which are presented as current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet and the remaining balance of $3,608,822 and $3,540,622 are presented as non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

  

12

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

On April 20, 2017, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Rural Credit Union of Xushui District for a term of 2 years, which is due and payable in various installments from August 26, 2017 to April 19, 2019. The loan is guaranteed by Hebei Tengsheng with its land use right pledged as collateral for the benefit of the bank. Interest payment is due quarterly and bears a fixed rate of 0.6% per month. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the total outstanding loan balance was $2,346,476 and $2,302,133, respectively, which are presented as current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

 

Total interest expenses for the short-term bank loans and long-term loans for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 were $230,953 and $291,339, respectively. 

 

(8) Related Party Transactions

 

Mr. Zhenyong Liu, the Company’s CEO has loaned money to Dongfang Paper for working capital purposes over a period of time. On January 1, 2013, Dongfang Paper and Mr. Zhenyong Liu renewed the three-year term loan previously entered on January 1, 2010, and extended the maturity date further to December 31, 2015. On December 31, 2015, the Company paid off the loan of $2,249,279, together with interest of $391,374 for the period from 2013 to 2015. Approximately $380,685 and $373,490 of interest were outstanding to Mr. Zhenyong Liu, which were recorded in other payables and accrued liabilities as part of the current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

 

On December 10, 2014, Mr. Zhenyong Liu provided a loan to the Company, amounted to $8,910,671 to Dongfang Paper for working capital purpose with an interest rate of 4.35% per annum, which was based on the primary lending rate of People’s Bank of China. The unsecured loan was provided on December 10, 2014, and would be originally due on December 10, 2017. During the year of 2016, the Company repaid $6,012,416 to Mr. Zhenyong Liu, together with interest of $288,596. In February 2018, the company paid off the remaining balance, together with interest of $20,400. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, approximately $44,553 and $43,711 of interest were outstanding to Mr. Zhenyong Liu, which was recorded in other payables and accrued liabilities as part of the current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

On March 1, 2015, the Company entered an agreement with Mr. Zhenyong Liu which allows Dongfang Paper to borrow from the CEO an amount up to $17,821,341 (RMB120,000,000) for working capital purposes. The advances or funding under the agreement are due three years from the date each amount is funded. The loan is unsecured and carries an annual interest rate set on the basis of the primary lending rate of the People’s Bank of China at the time of the borrowing. On July 13, 2015, an unsecured amount of $4,324,636 was drawn from the facility. On October 14, 2016 an unsecured amount of $2,883,091 was drawn from the facility. In February 2018, the company repaid $1,507,432 to Mr. Zhenyong Liu. The loan would be originally due on July 12, 2018. Mr. Zhenyong Liu agreed to extend the loan for additional 3 years and the remaining balance will be due on July 12, 2021. On November 23, 2018, the company repaid $3,768,579 to Mr. Zhenyong Liu, together with interest of $158,651. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the outstanding loan balance were $2,227,668 and $2,185,569, respectively, and the accrued interest was $228,336 and $200,253, respectively, which was recorded in other payables and accrued liabilities as part of the current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, total amount of loans due to Mr. Zhenyong Liu were $2,227,668 and $2,185,569, respectively. The interest expense incurred for such related party loans are $24,316 and $112,472 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The accrued interest owe to the CEO was approximately $653,574 and $617,454, as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, which was recorded in other payables and accrued liabilities.

 

As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, amount due to shareholder are $269,193 and $210,148, respectively, which represents funds from shareholders to pay for various expenses incurred in the U.S. The amount is due on demand with interest free.

 

Lease of Headquarters Compound Real Properties from a Related Party

 

On August 7, 2013, the Company’s Audit Committee and the Board of Directors approved the sale of the land use right of the Headquarters Compound (the “LUR”), the office building and essentially all industrial-use buildings in the Headquarters Compound (the “Industrial Buildings”), and three employee dormitory buildings located within the Headquarters Compound (the “Dormitories”) to Hebei Fangsheng for cash prices of approximately $2.77 million, $1.15 million, and $4.31 million, respectively. Sales of the LUR and the Industrial Buildings were completed in year 2013.

 

In connection with the sale of the Industrial Buildings, Hebei Fangsheng agreed to lease the Industrial Buildings back to the Company for its original use for a term of up to three years, with an annual rental payment of approximately $149,060 (RMB1,000,000). The lease agreement expired in August 2016. On August 6, 2016 and August 6, 2018, the Company entered into two supplementary agreements with Hebei Fangsheng, who agreed to extend the lease term for another four years in total, with the same rental payment as original lease agreement.

 

13

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

(9) Notes payable

 

Notes payable was nil as of March 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had bank acceptance notes of $3,642,616 from the Bank of Cangzhou to one of its major suppliers for settling purchase of raw materials. The acceptance notes are used to essentially extend the payment of accounts payable and are issued under the banking facilities obtained from bank as well as the restricted bank deposit of $3,642,616 in the bank as mentioned in Note (3). The bank acceptance notes from the bank bore interest rate at nil% per annum and 0.05% of notes amount as handling charge. The acceptance notes were due and paid off in January 2019.

 

(10) Other payables and accrued liabilities

 

Other payables and accrued liabilities consist of the following: 

 

   March 31,   December 31, 
   2019   2018 
Accrued electricity  $198,734   $186,780 
Value-added tax payable   191,076    520,190 
Accrued interest to a related party   653,574    617,454 
Payable for purchase of equipment   7,646,197    8,788,924 
Accrued commission to salesmen   12,781    62,247 
Others   20,960    47,201 
Totals  $8,723,322   $10,222,796 

 

(11) Common Stock

 

Issuance of common stock to investors 

 

On August 27, 2014, the Company issued 1,562,500 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase up to 781,250 shares of our common stock (the “Offering”). Each share of common stock and accompanying warrant was sold at a price of $1.60. Please refer to Note (12), Stock Warrants, for details.

 

Issuance of common stock pursuant to the 2012 Incentive Stock Plan and 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive

 

On January 12, 2016, the Company granted an aggregate of 1,133,916 shares of common stock under its compensatory incentive plans to nine officers, directors and employees of and a consultant when the stock was at $1.25 per share, as compensation for their services in the past years, of which 168,416 shares of common stock were granted under the 2012 Incentive Stock Plan and 965,500 shares were granted under the 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive. Please see Note (15), Stock Incentive Plans for more details. Total fair value of the stock was calculated at $1,417,395 as of the date of grant.

 

On September 13, 2018, the compensation committee granted an aggregate of 534,500 shares of common stock at $0.88 per share to fifteen officers, directors and employees of the Company, which were granted under the 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan. Total fair value of the shares of common stock granted was calculated at $470,360 as of the date of issuance. 

 

14

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

(12) Stock warrants

 

On August 27, 2014, the Company issued 1,562,500 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase up to 781,250 shares of our common stock. The warrants have an exercise price of $1.70 per share. These warrants are exercisable immediately upon issuance on September 3, 2014 and have a term of exercise equal to five years from the date of issuance till September 2, 2019. The fair value of these shares amounted to $780,000, is classified as equity at the date of issuance.

 

The fair value of the warrants issued was estimated by using the Binominal pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

Terms of warrants  5 years 
Expected volatility   72.0 
Risk-free interest rate   1.69 
Expected dividend yield   0.81 

 

In connection with the Offering, the Company issued warrants to its placement agent of this Offering, which can purchase an aggregate of up to 2.50% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock sold in the Offering, i.e. 39,062 shares. These warrants have substantially the same terms as the warrants issued to purchaser in the Offering, except that the exercise price is $2.00 per share and the expiration date is from September 3, 2014 to June 26, 2019. The fair value of these shares amounted to $35,191, is classified in the equity at the date of issuance to net off the proceeds from the issuance of the shares and warrants. 

 

The fair value of the warrants issued was estimated by using the Binominal pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

Terms of warrants   4.81 years 
Expected volatility   69.8 
Risk-free interest rate   1.62 
Expected dividend yield   0.81 

 

The Company applied judgment in estimating key assumptions in determining the fair value of the warrants on the date of issuance. The Company used historical data to estimate stock volatilities and expected dividend yield. The risk-free rates are consistent with the terms of the warrants and are based on the United States Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of issuance. 

 

A summary of stock warrant activities is as below:

 

  

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2019

 
   Number  

Weight

average

exercise

price

 
Outstanding and exercisable at beginning of the period   820,312   $1.71 
Issued during the period   -    - 
Exercised during the period   -    - 
Cancelled or expired during the period   -    - 
Outstanding and exercisable at end of the period   820,312   $1.71 
Range of exercise price   $1.70 to $2.00 

 

15

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

No warrants were issued, exercised, cancelled or expired during the three months ended March 31, 2019. As of March 31, 2019, the aggregated intrinsic value of warrants outstanding and exercisable was $nil.

 

No warrants were issued, exercised, cancelled or expired during the three months ended March 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2018, the aggregated intrinsic value of warrants outstanding and exercisable was $nil.

 

(13) Earnings Per Share

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, basic and diluted net income per share are calculated as follows: 

 

   Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   2019   2018 
Basic loss per share        
Net loss for the period - numerator  $(2,722,595)  $(4,086,276)
Weighted average common stock outstanding - denominator   22,022,316    21,450,316 
           
Net loss per share  $(0.12)  $(0.19)
           
Diluted income per share          
Net income for the period - numerator  $(2,722,595)  $(4,086,276)
Weighted average common stock outstanding - denominator   22,022,316    21,450,316 
           
Effect of dilution   -    - 
Weighted average common stock outstanding - denominator   

22,022,316

    21,450,316 
           
Diluted loss per share  $(0.12)  $(0.19)

  

For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, 820,312 warrants shares were excluded from the calculations of dilutive net income per share as their effects would have been anti-dilutive since the average share price was lower than the warrants exercise price. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, there were no securities with dilutive effect issued and outstanding.

 

16

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

(14) Income Taxes 

 

United States

 

The Company and Shengde Holdings are incorporated in the State of Nevada and are subject to the U.S. federal tax and state statutory tax rates up to 34% and 0%, respectively. On December 22, 2017, the U.S. enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “2017 TCJAAct”), which significantly changed U.S. tax law. The Act 2017 TCJA lowered the Company’s U.S. statutory federal income tax rate from the highest rate of 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, while also imposing a deemed repatriation tax on deferred foreign income which requires companies to pay a one-time transition tax on previously unremitted earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred and creates new taxes on certain foreign sourced earnings. The SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 118, which provides guidance on accounting for enactment effects of the 2017 TCJA. SAB 118 provides a measurement period of up to one year from the 2017 TCJA’s enactment date for companies to complete their accounting under ASC 740. In accordance with SAB 118, to the extent that a company’s accounting for certain income tax effects of the 2017 TCJA is incomplete but it is able to determine a reasonable estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in its financial statements. If a company cannot determine a provisional estimate to be included in its financial statements, it should continue to apply ASC 740 on the basis of the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately before the enactment of the 2017 TCJA.

 

In connection with the Company’s initial analysis of the impact of the enactment of the 2017 TCJA, the Company recorded a net tax expense of approximately $80,000 in the fourth quarter of 2017. For various reasons that are discussed more fully below, including the issuance of additional technical and interpretive guidance, the Company has not completed its accounting for the income tax effects of certain elements of the 2017 TCJA. However, with respect to the following, the Company was able to make reasonable estimates of the 2017 TCJA’s effects and, as such, recorded provisional amounts:

 

Transition tax: The transition tax is a tax on previously untaxed accumulated and current earnings and profits (E&P) of certain of the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries. To determine the amount of the transition tax, the Company must determine, in addition to other factors, the amount of post-1986 E&P of the relevant subsidiaries, as well as the amount of non-U.S. income taxes paid on such earnings. Further, the transition tax is based in part on the amount of those earnings held in cash and other specified assets. The Company was able to make a reasonable estimate of the transition tax and recorded a provisional obligation and additional income tax expense of approximately $80,000 in the fourth quarter of 2017. However, the Company is continuing to gather additional information and will consider additional technical guidance to more precisely compute and account for the amount of the transition tax. This amount may change when the Company finalizes the calculation of post-1986 foreign E&P previously deferred from U.S. federal taxation and finalizes the amounts held in cash or other specified assets. The 2017 TCJA’s transition tax is payable over eight years beginning in 2018. Hence, the Company only provided $6,528 for the year ended 31 December 2017.

 

PRC

 

Dongfang Paper and Baoding Shengde are PRC operating companies and are subject to PRC Enterprise Income Tax. Pursuant to the PRC New Enterprise Income Tax Law, Enterprise Income Tax is generally imposed at a statutory rate of 25%.

 

The provisions for income taxes for three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended 
   March 31, 
   2019   2018 
Provision for Income Taxes        
Current Tax Provision PRC  $ -   $ - 
Deferred Tax Provision PRC   (647,795)   (538,969)
Total Provision for (Deferred tax benefit)/ Income Taxes  $(647,795)  $(538,969)

 

17

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

In addition to the reversible future PRC income tax benefits stemming from the timing differences of items such as recognition of asset disposal gain or loss and asset depreciation, the Company was incorporated in the United States and incurred aggregate net operating losses of approximately $nil and $6,710,939 for U.S. income tax purposes for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2016, respectively. The net operating loss carried forward may be available to reduce future years’ taxable income. These carry forwards would expire, if not utilized, during the period of 2030 through 2035. As of December 31, 2016, management believed that the realization of all the U.S. income tax benefits from these losses, which generally would generate a deferred tax asset if it can be expected to be utilized in the future, appears not more than likely due to the Company’s limited operating history and continuing losses for United States income tax purposes. Accordingly, As of December 31, 2016, the Company provided a 100% valuation allowance on the U.S. deferred tax asset benefit to reduce the total deferred tax asset to the amount realizable for the PRC income tax purposes. Management reviews this valuation allowance periodically and will make adjustments as warranted. A summary of the otherwise deductible (or taxable) deferred tax items is as follows:

 

   March 31,
2019
   December 31, 2018 
Deferred tax assets (liabilities)        
Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment  $7,683,378   $7,097,828 
Impairment of property, plant and equipment   552,946    546,531 
Miscellaneous   367,819    289,799 
Net operating loss carryover of PRC company   477,790    342,933 
Total deferred tax assets   9,081,933    8,277,091 
Less: Valuation allowance   -    - 
Total deferred tax assets, net  $9,081,933   $8,277,091 

 

The following table reconciles the statutory rates to the Company’s effective tax rate for:

 

  

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
   2019   2018 
PRC Statutory rate   25.0%   25.0%
Effect of different tax jurisdiction   -    - 
Effect of reconciling items in the PRC for tax purposes   2.2    (13.3)
Change in valuation allowance   (28.0)   - 
Effective income tax rate   19.2%   11.7%

  

During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the effective income tax rate was estimated by the Company to be 19.2% and 11.7%, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2017, except for the one-time transition tax under the 2017 TCJA which imposes a U.S. tax liability on all unrepatriated foreign E&Ps, the Company does not believe that its future dividend policy and the available U.S. tax deductions and net operating losses will cause the Company to recognize any other substantial current U.S. federal or state corporate income tax liability in the near future. Nor does it believes that the amount of the repatriation of the VIE’s earnings and profits for purposes of paying dividends will change the Company’s position that its PRC subsidiary Baoding Shengde and the VIE, Dongfang Paper are considered or are expected to be indefinitely reinvested offshore to support our future capacity expansion. If these earnings are repatriated to the U.S. resulting in U.S. taxable income in the future, or if it is determined that such earnings are to be remitted in the foreseeable future, additional tax provisions would be required. 

 

18

 

  

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

The Company has adopted ASC Topic 740-10-05, Income Taxes. To date, the adoption of this interpretation has not impacted the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. The Company performed self-assessment and the Company’s liability for income taxes includes the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties which relate to tax years still subject to review by taxing authorities. Audit periods remain open for review until the statute of limitations has passed, which in the PRC is usually 5 years. The completion of review or the expiration of the statute of limitations for a given audit period could result in an adjustment to the Company’s liability for income taxes. Any such adjustment could be material to the Company’s results of operations for any given quarterly or annual period based, in part, upon the results of operations for the given period. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, management considered that the Company had no uncertain tax positions affecting its consolidated financial position and results of operations or cash flows, and will continue to evaluate for any uncertain position in future. There are no estimated interest costs and penalties provided in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company’s tax positions related to open tax years are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities and the major one is the China Tax Authority.

 

(15) Stock Incentive Plans

 

Issuance of common stock pursuant to the 2011 Incentive Stock Plan and 2012 Incentive Stock Plan

 

On August 28, 2011, the Company’s Annual General Meeting approved the 2011 Incentive Stock Plan of IT Tech Packaging, Inc. (the “2011 ISP”) as previously adopted by the Board of Directors on July 5, 2011. Under the 2011 ISP, the Company may grant an aggregate of 375,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to the Company’s directors, officers, employees or consultants. No stock or option was issued under the 2011 ISP until January 2, 2012, when the Compensation Committee granted 109,584 shares of restricted common stock to certain officers and directors of the Company when the stock was at $3.45 per share, as compensation for their services in the past years. Total fair value of the stock was calculated at $378,065 as of the date of issuance.

 

On September 10, 2012, the Company’s Annual General Meeting approved the 2012 Incentive Stock Plan of IT Tech Packaging, Inc. (the “2012 ISP”) as previously adopted by the Board of Directors on July 4, 2012. Under the 2012 ISP, the Company may grant an aggregate of 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to the Company’s directors, officers, employees or consultants. Specifically, the Board and/or the Compensation Committee have authority to (a) grant, in its discretion, Incentive Stock Options or Non-statutory Options, Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Purchase Offers; (b) determine in good faith the fair market value of the stock covered by any grant; (c) determine which eligible persons shall receive grants and the number of shares, restrictions, terms and conditions to be included in such grants; and (d) make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the 2012 ISP’s administration. On December 31, 2013, the Compensation Committee granted restricted common shares of 297,000, out of which 265,416 shares were granted under the 2011 ISP and 31,584 shares under the 2012 ISP, to certain officers, directors and employees of the Company when the stock was at $2.66 per share, as compensation for their services in the past years. Total fair value of the stock was calculated at $790,020 as of the date of grant. 

 

2015 Incentive Plan

 

On August 29, 2015, the Company’s Annual General Meeting approved the 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan of IT Tech Packaging, Inc. (the “2015 ISP”) as previously adopted by the Board of Directors on July 10, 2015. Under the 2015 ISP, the Company may grant an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to the directors, officers, employees and/or consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries. On January 12, 2016, the Compensation Committee granted un-restricted common shares of 1,133,916, of which 168,416 shares were granted under the 2012 ISP and 965,500 shares under the 2015 ISP, to certain officers, directors, employees and a consultant of the Company as compensation for their services in the past years. Total fair value of the stock was calculated at $1,417,395 as of the date of issuance at $1.25 per share.

 

On September 13, 2018, the compensation committee granted an aggregate of 534,500 shares of common stock to fifteen officers, directors and employees of the Company, which were granted under the 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan. Total fair value of the shares of common stock granted was calculated at $470,360 as of the date of issuance at $0.88 per share.

 

(16) Commitments and Contingencies

 

Operating Lease

 

The Company leases 32.95 acres of land from a local government in Xushui District, Baoding City, Hebei, China through a real estate lease with a 30-year term, which expires on December 31, 2031. The lease requires an annual rental payment of approximately $17,887 (RMB 120,000). This operating lease is renewable at the end of the 30-year term.

 

On November 27, 2012, the company entered into a 49.4 acres land lease with an investment company in the Economic Development Zone in Wei County, Hebei Province, China. The lease term of the Wei County land lease commences on the date of the lease and lasts for 15 years. The lease requires an annual rental payment of $536,617 (RMB 3,600,000).

 

As mentioned in Note (8) Related Party Transactions, in connection with the sale of Industrial Buildings to Hebei Fangsheng, Hebei Fangsheng agrees to lease the Industrial Buildings back to the Company at an annual rental of $149,060 (RMB 1,000,000), for a total term of up to five years.

 

19

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Future minimum lease payments of all operating leases are as follows: 

 

March 31,  Amount 
2020   552,462 
2021   552,462 
2022   552,462 
2023   552,462 
2024   552,462 
Thereafter   1,786,589 
Total operating lease payments  $4,548,897 

 

Capital commitment

 

As of March 31, 2019, the Company has signed several contracts for improvement of Industrial Buildings. Total outstanding commitments under these contracts were $2,378,958 and $2,300,187 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The Company expected to pay off all the balances within 1 year.

 

Guarantees and Indemnities

 

The Company agreed with Baoding Huanrun Trading Co., a major supplier of raw materials, to guarantee certain obligations of this third party, and as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company guaranteed its long-term loan from financial institutions amounting to $4,603,846 (RMB31,000,000) that matured at various times in 2018-2023. If Huanrun Trading Co., were to become insolvent, the Company could be materially adversely affected.

 

(17) Segment Reporting

 

Since March 10, 2010, Baoding Shengde started its operations and thereafter the Company manages its operations through two business operating segments: Dongfang Paper, which produces offset printing paper and corrugating medium paper, and Baoding Shengde, which produces digital photo paper. They are managed separately because each business requires different technology and marketing strategies.

 

The Company evaluates performance of its operating segments based on net income. Administrative functions such as finance, treasury, and information systems are centralized. However, where applicable, portions of the administrative function expenses are allocated between the operating segments based on gross revenue generated. The operating segments do share facilities in Xushui District, Baoding City, Hebei Province, China. All sales were sold to customers located in the PRC.

 

Summarized financial information for the two reportable segments is as follows:  

 

   Three Months Ended 
   March 31, 2019 
   Dongfang   Baoding   Not Attributable   Elimination of    Enterprise-wide, 
   Paper   Shengde   to Segments   Inter-segment   consolidated 
                     
Revenues  $17,450,292   $-   $-   $  -   $17,450,292 
Gross profit   (192,466)   -    -    -    (192,466)
Depreciation and amortization   3,930,054    6    -    -    3,930,060 
Interest income   58,727    91    -    -    58,818 
Interest expense   212,876    42,393    -    -    255,269 
Income tax expense(benefit)   (622,304)   (25,491)   -    -    (647,795)
Net income (loss)   (2,440,828)   (38,807)   (242,960)   -    (2,722,595)

 

20

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

   Three Months Ended 
   March 31, 2018 
   Dongfang   Baoding   Not Attributable   Elimination of   Enterprise-wide, 
   Paper   Shengde   to Segments   Inter-segment   consolidated 
                     
Revenues  $1,888,194   $-   $-   $      -   $1,888,194 
Gross profit   (695,308)   -    -    -    (695,308)
Depreciation and amortization   3,538,159    192,426    -    -    3,730,585 
Loss from disposal of property, plant and equipment   10,376    -    -    -    10,376 
Interest income   44,615    148    -    -    44,763 
Interest expense   358,790    45,021    -    -    403,811 
Income tax expense(benefit)   (472,636)   (66,333)   -    -    (538,969)
Net income (loss)   (3,550,390)   (198,724)   (337,162)   -    (4,086,276)

 

   As of March 31, 2019 
   Dongfang   Baoding   Not Attributable   Elimination of   Enterprise-wide, 
   Paper   Shengde   to Segments   Inter-segment   consolidated 
                     
Total assets  $175,578,609    18,950,298    28,397            -    194,557,304 

 

   As of December 31, 2018 
   Dongfang   Baoding   Not Attributable   Elimination of   Enterprise-wide, 
   Paper   Shengde   to Segments   Inter-segment   consolidated 
                     
Total assets  $183,987,100    19,068,788    20,122           -    203,076,010 

 

21

 

 

IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

  

(18) Concentration and Major Customers and Suppliers

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company had no single customer contributed over 10% of total sales.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company had no single customer contributed over 10% of total sales.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company had three major suppliers accounted for 80%, 9% and 4% of total purchases. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company had three major suppliers accounted for 41%, 20% and 10% of total purchases.

 

(19) Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments for which the Company is potentially subject to concentration of credit risk consist principally of cash. The Company places its cash in reputable financial institutions in the PRC and the United States. Although it is generally understood that the PRC central government stands behind all of the banks in China in the event of bank failure, there is no deposit insurance system in China that is similar to the protection provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) of the United States as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. On May 1, 2015, the new “Deposit Insurance Regulations” was effective in the PRC that the maximum protection would be up to RMB500,000 (US$74,256) per depositor per insured financial intuition, including both principal and interest. For the cash placed in financial institutions in the United States, the Company’s U.S. bank accounts are all fully covered by the FDIC insurance as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, while for the cash placed in financial institutions in the PRC, the balances exceeding the maximum coverage of RMB500,000 amounted to RMB16,224,788 (US$ 2,409,562) as of March 31, 2019.

 

(20) Risks and Uncertainties

 

The Company is subject to substantial risks from, among other things, intense competition associated with the industry in general, other risks associated with financing, liquidity requirements, rapidly changing customer requirements, foreign currency exchange rates, and operating in the PRC under its various laws and restrictions.

 

(21) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2016-13”). Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) amends guidelines on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost basis and available-for-sale debt securities. For assets held at amortized cost basis, Topic 326 eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current GAAP and, instead, requires an entity to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial assets to present the net amount expected to be collected. For available-for-sale debt securities, credit losses should be measured in a manner similar to current GAAP, however Topic 326 will require that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. ASU 2016-13 affects entities holding financial assets and net investment in leases that are not accounted for at fair value through net income. The amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables, and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. The amendments in this ASU will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-13 on our consolidated

financial statements. 

 

(22) Subsequent Event

 

 

22

 

 

Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

The following discussion of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company for the periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes to the financial statements that are included elsewhere in this quarterly report.

 

In this quarterly report, references to “the Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to IT Tech Packaging, Inc. and its PRC subsidiary and variable interest entity unless the context requires otherwise.

 

We make certain forward-looking statements in this report. Statements concerning our future operations, prospects, strategies, financial condition, future economic performance (including growth and earnings), demand for our services, and other statements of our plans, beliefs, or expectations, including the statements contained under the captions “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” as well as captions elsewhere in this document, are forward-looking statements. In some cases these statements are identifiable through the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “project”, “target”, “can”, “could”, “may”, “should”, “will”, “would”, and similar expressions. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The forward-looking statements we make are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various assumptions, risks, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Indeed, it is likely that some of our assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Our actual results and financial position may vary from those projected or implied in the forward-looking statements and the variances may be material. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties, together with the other risks described from time to time in reports and documents that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements. In evaluating the forward-looking statements contained in this report, you should consider various factors, including, without limitation, the following: (a) those risks and uncertainties related to general economic conditions, (b) whether we are able to manage our planned growth efficiently and operate profitably, (c) whether we are able to generate sufficient revenues or obtain financing to sustain and grow our operations, and (d) whether we are able to successfully fulfill our primary requirements for cash. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required under federal securities laws.

 

Effective on August 1, 2018, we changed our corporate name to IT Tech Packaging, Inc.. The name change was effected through a parent/subsidiary short-form merger of IT Tech Packaging, Inc., our wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary formed solely for the purpose of the name change, with and into us. We were the surviving entity. In connection with the name change, our common stock began being traded under a new NYSE symbol, “ITP,” and a new CUSIP number, 46527C100, at such time.

 

Results of Operations

 

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018

 

Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $17,450,292, an increase of $15,562,098, or 824.18%, from $1,888,194 for the same period in the previous year. This was mainly due to the increase in sales volume of CMP and tissue paper products, partially offset by the decrease in average selling price (ASP) of CMP.

 

23

 

 

Revenue of Offset Printing Paper, Corrugating Medium Paper and Tissue Paper Products 

 

Revenue from sales of offset printing paper, corrugating medium paper (“CMP”) and tissue paper products for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $17,450,292, an increase of $15,562,098, or 824.18%, from $1,888,194 for the first quarter of 2018. Total offset printing paper, CMP and tissue paper products sold during the three months ended March 31, 2019 amounted to 35,321 tonnes, an increase of 32,019 tonnes, or 969.69%, compared to 3,302 tonnes sold in the comparable period in the previous year. The increase was mainly due to the production suspension that took place from late January 2018 to March 13, 2018 due to a government-mandated restriction on the natural gas supply, and the launch of our PM8 production line in December 2018 for production and sales of tissue paper products. The changes in revenue dollar amount and in quantity sold for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 are summarized as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended       Percentage 
   March 31, 2019   March 31, 2018   Change in   Change 
Sales Revenue  Quantity (Tonne)   Amount   Quantity (Tonne)   Amount   Quantity (Tonne)   Amount   Quantity   Amount 
                                 
Regular CMP   26,293   $12,224,879    1,672   $907,719    24,621   $11,317,160    1472.55%   1246.77%
Light-Weight CMP   7,425   $3,365,132    1,251   $651,847    6,174   $2,713,285    493.53%   416.25%
Total CMP   33,718   $15,590,011    2,923   $1,559,566    30,795   $14,030,445    1053.54%   899.64%
Offset Printing Paper   -   $-    379   $328,628    (379)  $(328,628)   -100.00%   -100.00%
Tissue Paper Products   1,603   $1,860,281    -   $-    1,603   $1,860,281     %    %
Total CMP, Offset Printing Paper and Tissue Paper Revenue   35,321   $17,450,292    3,302   $1,888,194    32,019   $15,562,098    969.69%   824.18%

 

Monthly sales revenue (excluding revenue from digital photo paper and tissue paper products) for the 24 months ended March 31, 2019, are summarized below:

 

 

The Average Selling Prices (ASPs) for our main products in the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 are summarized as follows:

 

   Offset Printing Paper ASP   Regular CMP ASP   Light-Weight CMP ASP   Tissue Paper Products ASP 
Three Months ended March 31, 2018  $867   $543   $521   $- 
Three Months ended March 31, 2019  $-   $465   $453   $1,160 
Increase (Decrease) from comparable period in the previous year  $-867   $-78   $-68   $1,160 
Decrease by percentage   -100.00%   -14.36%   -13.05%   -%

 

24

 

 

The following chart shows the month-by-month ASPs (excluding the ASPs of the digital photo paper and tissue paper products) for the 24-month period ended March 31, 2019:

 

    

Corrugating Medium Paper

 

Revenue from CMP amounted to $15,590,011 (89.34% of the total offset printing paper, CMP and tissue paper products revenues) for the three months ended March 31, 2019, representing an increase of $14,030,445, or 899.64%, from $1,559,566 for the comparable period in 2018.

 

We sold 33,718 tonnes of CMP in the three months ended March 31, 2019 as compared to 2,923 tonnes for the same period in 2018, representing a 1053.54% increase in quantity sold.

 

ASP for regular CMP dropped from $543/tonne for the three months ended March 31, 2018 to $465/tonne for the three months ended March 31, 2019, representing a 14.36% decrease. ASP in RMB for regular CMP for the first quarter of 2018 and 2019 was RMB3,430 and RMB3,119, respectively, representing a 9.07% decrease. The quantity of regular CMP sold increased by 24,621 tonnes, from 1,672 tonnes in the first quarter of 2018 to 26,293 tonnes in the first quarter of 2019.

 

ASP for light-weight CMP decreased from $521/tonne for the three months ended March 31, 2018 to $453/tonne for the three months ended March 31, 2019, representing a 13.05% decrease. ASP in RMB for light-weight CMP for the first quarter of 2018 and 2019 was RMB3,291 and RMB3,041, respectively, representing a 7.60% decrease. The quantity of light-weight CMP sold increased by 6,174 tonnes, from 1,251 tonnes in the first quarter of 2018, to 7,425 tonnes in the first quarter of 2019.

 

We do not expect that there will be big swings in the market demand and ASPs for CMP and other packaging paper in year 2019.

 

Our PM6 production line, which produces regular CMP, has a designated capacity of 360,000 tonnes/year. The utilization rates for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018 were 28.79% and 4.46%, respectively, representing an increase of 24.33%.

 

25

 

 

Quantities sold for regular CMP that was produced by the PM6 production line from April 2017 to March 2019 are as follows:

 

   

Tissue Paper Products

 

We process base tissue paper purchased from a long-term supplier and produce finished tissue paper products, including toilet paper, boxed and soft-packed tissues, handkerchief tissues and paper napkins, as well as bathroom and kitchen paper towels that are marketed and sold under the Dongfang Paper brand. In December 2018, we completed the construction, installation and test of operation of our PM8 production line and began the commercial launch of tissue paper production.

 

Revenue from tissue paper products was $1,860,281 (10.66% of the total offset printing paper, CMP and tissue paper products revenues) for the three months ended March 31, 2019, representing an increase of $1,860,281, from $nil for the three months ended March 31, 2018. We sold 1,603 tonnes of tissue paper in the first quarter of 2019.

 

Offset Printing Paper

 

Revenue from offset printing paper was $nil for the three months ended March 31, 2019, representing a decrease of $328,628, or 100.00%, from $328,628 for the three months ended March 31, 2018. We sold no offset printing paper in the first quarter of 2019, as compared to 379 tonnes in the comparable period of 2018, a decrease of 379 tonnes, or 100.00%. Production of offset printing paper was suspended from August 2018 to March 2019 due to equipment maintenance and restriction on production volume by the government due to environmental concerns. Production of offset printing paper was resumed in April 2019.

 

26

 

  

Cost of Sales

 

Total cost of sales for CMP, offset printing paper and tissue paper products for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 was $17,642,758, an increase of $15,059,256, or 582.90%, from $2,583,502 for the comparable period in 2018. This was mainly due to the increase in sales quantity of CMP and tissue paper products, partially offset by a decrease in material costs.

 

Cost of sales for CMP was $15,816,086 for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, as compared to $2,130,823 for the comparable period in 2018. The increase in the cost of sales of $13,685,263 for CMP was in line with increase of sales volume. Average cost of sales per tonne for CMP decreased by 35.67%, from $729 in the first quarter of 2018 to $469 in the first quarter of 2019. The decrease in average cost of sales was mainly attributable to the lower average unit purchase costs (net of applicable value added tax) of recycled paper board in first quarter of 2019 compared to the first quarter of 2018.

 

Changes in cost of sales and cost per tonne by product for the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 are summarized below:

 

   Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended             
   March 31, 2019   March 31, 2018   Change in   Change in percentage 
  Cost of Sales   Cost per Tonne   Cost of Sales   Cost per Tonne   Cost of Sales   Cost per Tonne   Cost of Sales   Cost per Tone 
Regular CMP  $12,271,075   $467   $1,091,386   $653   $11,179,689   $(186)   1024.36%   -28.48 
Light-Weight CMP  $3,545,011   $477   $1,039,437   $831   $2,505,574   $(354)   241.05%   -42.60 
Total CMP  $15,816,086   $469   $2,130,823   $729   $13,685,263   $(260)   642.25%   -35.67 
Offset Printing Paper  $-   $-   $452,679   $1,194   $(452,679)  $(1,194)   -100.00%   -100.00 
Tissue Paper Products  $1,826,672   $1,140    -   $-   $1,826,672   $1,140    %     
Total CMP, Offset Printing Paper and Tissue Paper  $17,642,758   $n/a   $2,583,502   $n/a   $15,059,256   $n/a    582.90%   n/a 

  

Our average unit purchase costs (net of applicable value added tax) of recycled paper board in the three months ended March 31, 2019 was RMB 1,625/tonne (approximately $242/tonne), as compared to RMB 2,051/tonne (approximately $325/tonne) for the three months ended March 31, 2018. These changes (in US dollars) represent a year-over-year decrease of 25.54% for the recycled paper board. We use domestic recycled paper (sourced mainly from the Beijing-Tianjin metropolitan area) exclusively. Although we do not rely on imported recycled paper, the pricing of which tends to be more volatile than domestic recycled paper, our experience suggests that the pricing of domestic recycled paper bears some correlation to the pricing of imported recycled paper.

 

The pricing trends of our major raw materials for the 24-month period from April 2017 to March 2019 are shown below:

 

  

27

 

 

Electricity and gas are our two main energy sources. Electricity and gas accounted for approximately 9% and 10.2% of total sales in first quarter of 2019, respectively, compared to 6% and 9.5% of total sales in first quarter of 2018. The monthly energy cost (electricity, coal and gas) as a percentage of total monthly sales of our main paper products for the 24 months ended March 31, 2019 are summarized as follows:

 

 

Gross Loss

 

Gross loss for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $192,466, representing a decrease of $502,841, or 72.32%, from the gross loss of $695,308 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as a result of factors described above.

 

Offset Printing Paper, CMP and Tissue Paper Products

 

Gross loss for offset printing paper, CMP and tissue paper products for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $192,466, a decrease of $502,841, or 72.32%, from the gross loss of $695,308 for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

The overall gross profit margin for offset printing paper, CMP and tissue paper products increased by 35.72 percentage points, from -36.82% for the three months ended March 31, 2018, to -1.10% for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

 

Gross profit margin for regular CMP for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was -0.38%, or 19.85 percentage points higher, as compared to gross profit margin of -20.23% for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

 

Gross profit margin for light-weight CMP for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was -5.35%, or 54.11 percentage points higher, as compared to gross profit margin of -59.46% for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

 

28

 

 

Gross profit margin for tissue paper products was 1.81% for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

 

Monthly gross profit margins on the sales of our CMP and offset printing paper for the 24-month period ended March 31, 2019 are as follows:

 

   

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2019 were $2,981,473, a decrease of $832,321, or 21.82% from $3,813,794 for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The decrease was mainly due to additional repair and maintenance costs incurred during the production suspension period in 2018.

 

Loss from Operations 

 

Operating loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 was $3,173,939, a decrease of $1,345,539, or 29.77%, from $4,519,478 for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.

  

Other Income and Expenses

 

Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 decreased by $148,542, from $403,811 in the three months ended March 31, 2018, to $255,269. The Company had short-term and long-term interest-bearing loans and related party loans that aggregated $16,247,123 as of March 31, 2019, as compared to $27,257,836 as of March 31, 2018.

 

Net Loss

 

As a result and the factors discussed above, net loss was $2,722,595 for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, representing a decrease of $1,363,681, or 33.37%, from net loss of $4,086,276 for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Net accounts receivable decreased by $467,174, or 16.24%, to $2,409,458 as of March 31, 2019, as compared with $2,876,632 as of December 31, 2018. We usually collect accounts receivable within 30 days of delivery and completion of sales.

 

29

 

 

Inventories

 

Inventories consist of raw materials (accounting for 62.10% of total value of inventory as of March 31, 2019), semi-finished goods and finished goods. As of March 31, 2019, the recorded value of inventory increased by 42.19% to $4,156,848 from $2,923,516 as of December 31, 2018. As of March 31, 2019, the inventory of recycled paper board, which is the main raw material for the production of CMP, was $1,423,675, approximately $1,011,358, or 245.29%, higher than the balance as of December 31, 2018. Due to the volatility of recycled paper board price, we reduced the Company’s inventory of recycled paper board in December 2018.

 

A summary of changes in major inventory items is as follows:

 

   March 31,
2019
   December 31,
2018
   $
Change
   %
Change
 
Raw Materials                
Recycled paper board  $1,423,675   $412,317    1,011,358    245.29%
Recycled white scrap paper   623,646    611,861    11,786    1.93%
Tissue base paper   182,096    24,027    158,069    657.90%
Coal & gas   170,801    167,230    3,571    2.14%
Digital photo base paper and other raw materials   181,097    140,268    40,828    29.11%
Total Raw Materials   2,581,315    1,355,703    1,225,612    90.40%
                     
Semi-finished Goods   185,498    -    185,498      
Finished Goods   1,390,035    1,567,813    -177,778    -11.34%
Totals  $4,156,848   $2,923,516    1,233,332    42.19%

  

Accounts Payable and Notes Payable

 

Accounts payable and notes payable was $1,647,286 as of March 31, 2019, a decrease of 2,624,384, or 61.44%, from $4,271,670 as of December 31, 2018. Accounts payable was $1,647,286 and $629,054 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. We have been relying on the bank acceptance notes issued under our credit facilities with Bank of Cangzhou to make the majority of our raw materials payments to our vendors. Our notes payable to Bank of Cangzhou were $nil and $3,642,616 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. In January 2018, Bank of Cangzhou issued bank acceptance notes on our behalf for $3,642,616, which we paid off in January 2019.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Overview

 

As of March 31, 2019, we had a net working capital deficit of $5,006,539, a decrease of $468,856, from the net working capital deficit of $5,475,395 at December 31, 2018. Total current assets as of March 31, 2019 amounted to $15,405,184. Substantially all cash and cash equivalents are cash deposits in bank accounts.

 

Current liabilities as of March 31, 2019 totaled $20,411,723, a decrease of $9,222,544, from the December 31, 2018 balance of $29,634,267. We use bank acceptance notes, which are typically 6-to-12 month notes, to guarantee the payments to our vendors. In January 2018, Bank of Cangzhou issued bank acceptance notes on our behalf for $3,642,616, which we paid off in January 2019. Most of our current short-term bank loans are either revolving or term loans. We expect to renew these loans with the banks on similar terms at or before maturity. All of our short-term loans (with the exception of the notes payable, which carry no interest but require a deposit equal to a portion of the credit facilities at the issuing banks) have interest-only monthly payments, with a balloon payment for the entire principal amount upon maturity of the loan. The long term loans from the credit union require monthly and quarterly interest payments, with one large balloon payment upon maturity.  

 

In December 2018, the Company announced commercial launch of a new 25,000 tonnes per year tissue paper manufacturing production line, PM8. A successful trial production followed, and 1603 tons of tissue paper products were produced and sold in the first quarter of 2019. With the new capacity and increasing sales of tissue paper products, the management expects that there will be improved cash generated from operations and that our working capital condition will improve.

 

Our loan-to-equity ratio was 9.72% and our debt-asset ratio was 14.1% as of March 31, 2019. The industry average of debt-asset ratios in China for 2017 was 55.91%, according to the latest industry report in 2018 provided by China Paper Association at http://www.chinappi.org. As long as we are able to manage our short-term liquidity, we believe that our overall financial condition, compared to our Chinese peers, is reasonably healthy and should allow us to further leverage our assets to obtain capital for future growth.

 

Renewal of operating lease

 

On August 7, 2013, the Company’s Audit Committee and the Board of Directors approved the sale of the land use right of the Headquarters Compound (the “LUR”), the office building and essentially all industrial-use buildings in the Headquarters Compound (the “Industrial Buildings”), and three employee dormitory buildings located within the Headquarters Compound (the “Dormitories”) to Hebei Fangsheng for cash prices of approximately $2.77 million, $1.15 million, and $4.31 million respectively. In connection with the sale of the Industrial Buildings, Hebei Fangsheng agreed to lease the Industrial Buildings back to the Company for its original use for a term of up to three years, with an annual rental payment of approximately $149,060 (RMB1,000,000). The lease agreement expired in August 2016. On August 6, 2016 and August 6, 2018, the Company entered into two supplementary agreements with Hebei Fangsheng, who agreed to extend the lease term for another four years in total, with the same rental payment as original lease agreement. The accrued rental owed to Hebei Fangsheng was approximately $244,230 and $203,188 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, and such amounts were recorded as part of the current liabilities.

 

Capital Expenditure Commitment as of March 31, 2019

 

We finance our daily operations mainly by cash flows generated from our business operations and loans from banking institutions. As of March 31, 2019, we had approximately $2 million in capital expenditure commitments that were mainly related to improvement of Industrial Buildings. These commitments are expected to be financed by bank loans and cash flows generated from our business operations. 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of March 31, 2019 was $2,625,059, a decrease of $9,492,366, from $12,117,425 as of December 31, 2018. The decrease of cash and cash equivalents for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was attributable to a number of factors:

 

i. Net cash provided by operating activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $3,052,152 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The balance represented an decrease of cash of $1,805,442, or 37.17%, from $4,857,594 used in the three months ended March 31, 2018. Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $2,722,595, representing an decrease of $1,363,681, or 33.37%, from a net loss of $4,086,276 for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Changes in various asset and liability account balances throughout the three months ended March 31, 2019 also contributed to the net change in cash from operating activities in three months ended March 31, 2019. Chief among such changes is the decrease of accounts receivable in the amount of $535,220 during the three months of 2019 and the decrease of notes payable in the amount of $3,726,504. There was also an increase of $1,181,371 in the ending inventory balance as of March 31, 2019 (a decrease to net cash for the three months ended March 31, 2019 cash flow purposes). In addition, the Company had non-cash expenses relating to depreciation and amortization in the amount of $3,930,060. The Company also had a net decrease of $187,711 in prepayment and other current assets (an increase to net cash) and a net decrease of $201,653 in other payables and accrued liabilities and due to related parties (a decrease to net cash), as well as a decrease in income tax payable of $224,355 (a decrease to net cash) during the three months ended March 31, 2019.

 

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ii. Net cash used in investing activities

 

We incurred $1,415,761 in net cash expenditures for investing activities during the three months of 2019, as compared to $707,162 for the same period of 2018. Expenditures in the three months ended March 31, 2019 were mainly for improvement of industrial building.

  

iii. Net cash provided by financing activities

 

Net cash used in financing activities was $ 5,366,166 for the three months ended March 31, 2019, as compared to net cash provided by financing activities in the amount of $791,503 financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The decrease was mainly attributable to repayment of bank loans in the three months ended March 31, 2018.

 

Short-term bank loans

 

      March 31,   December 31, 
      2019   2018 
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (“ICBC”) Loan 1  (a)  $-   $4,079,730 
Bank of Cangzhou  (b)   -    5,099,662 
ICBC Loan 2  (c)   2,673,201    2,622,683 
ICBC Loan 3  (d)   4,009,802    - 
Total short-term bank loans     $6,683,003   $11,802,075 

 

(a)

On February 6, 2018, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the ICBC, with a balance of $4,079,730 as of December 31, 2018. The working capital loan was guaranteed by Hebei Tengsheng with its land use right pledged as collateral for the benefit of the bank. The loan bears a fixed interest rate of 5.4% per annum. The loan was due and repaid on January 28, 2019.

   
(b)

On January 2, 2018, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the Bank of Cangzhou, with a balance of $5,099,662 as of December 31, 2018. The loan bore a fixed interest rate of 6.09% per annum. The working capital loan was secured by the Company’s land use right and guaranteed by the Company’s CEO and Baoding Shengde with its production equipment as collateral for the benefit of the bank. The loan was due and repaid on January 3, 2019.

   
 (c) On November 22, 2018, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the ICBC, with a balance of $2,673,201 and $2,622,683 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, repectively. The working capital loan is secured by the Company’s land use right as collateral for the benefit of the bank. The loan bears a fixed interest rate of 4.741% per annum. The loan will be due on November 26, 2019.
   
(d) On January 28, 2019, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the ICBC, with a balance of $4,009,802 as of March 31, 2019. The working capital loan was guaranteed by Hebei Tengsheng with its land use right pledged as collateral for the benefit of the bank. The loan bears a fixed interest rate of 4.785% per annum. The loan will due and repaid on January 30, 2020.

 

As of March 31, 2019, there were guaranteed short-term borrowings of $6,683,003 and unsecured bank loans of $nil. As of December 31, 2018, there were guaranteed short-term borrowings of $11,802,075 and unsecured bank loans of $nil.

 

The average short-term borrowing rates for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 were approximately 4.76% and 5.57%, respectively.

 

Long-term loans from credit union

 

As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, loans payable to Rural Credit Union of Xushui District, amounted to $7,336,452 and $7,197,808, respectively. 

 

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On April 16, 2014, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Rural Credit Union of Xushui District for a term of 5 years, which is payable in various installments from June 21, 2014 to November 18, 2018. The loan is guaranteed by an independent third party. Interest payment is due quarterly and bears the rate of 0.64% per month. On November 6, 2018, the loan was renewed for additional 5 years and will be due and payable in various installments from December 21, 2018 to November 5, 2023. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, total outstanding loan balance was $1,277,196 and $1,253,060, respectively, Out of the total outstanding loan balance, current portion amounted were $89,107 and $87,423 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, which are presented as current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet and the remaining balance of $1,188,089 and $1,165,637 are presented as non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

 

On July 15, 2013, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Rural Credit Union of Xushui District for a term of 5 years, which was originally due and payable in various installments from December 21, 2013 to July 26, 2018. On June 21, 2018, the loan was extended for additional 5 years and will be due and payable in various installments from December 21, 2018 to June 20, 2023. The loan is secured by certain of the Company’s manufacturing equipment with net book value of $5,439,796 and $5,782,640 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Interest payment is due quarterly and bears a fixed rate of 0.64% per month. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the total outstanding loan balance was $3,712,779 and $3,642,615, respectively. Out of the total outstanding loan balance, current portion amounted were $103,958 and $101,993 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, which are presented as current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet and the remaining balance of $3,608,822 and $3,540,622 are presented as non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

 

On April 20, 2017, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Rural Credit Union of Xushui District for a term of 2 years, which is due and payable in various installments from August 26, 2017 to April 19, 2019. The loan is guaranteed by Hebei Tengsheng with its land use right pledged as collateral for the benefit of the bank. Interest payment is due quarterly and bears a fixed rate of 0.6% per month. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the total outstanding loan balance was $2,346,476 and $2,302,133, respectively, which are presented as current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively

 

Total interest expenses for the short-term bank loans and long-term loans for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 were $230,953 and $291,339, respectively. 

 

Shareholder Loans

 

Mr Zhenyong Liu, the Company’s CEO has loaned money to Dongfang Paper for working capital purposes over a period of time. On January 1, 2013, Dongfang Paper and Mr. Zhenyong Liu renewed the three-year term loan previously entered on January 1, 2010, and extended the maturity date further to December 31, 2015. On December 31, 2015, the Company paid off the loan of $2,249,279, together with interest of $391,374 for the period from 2013 to 2015. Approximately $380,685 and $373,490 of interest were outstanding to Mr. Zhenyong Liu as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, which were recorded in other payables and accrued liabilities as part of the current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

On December 10, 2014, Mr. Zhenyong Liu provided a loan to Dongfang Paper in the amount of $8,910,671 for working capital purpose with an interest rate of 4.35% per annum, which was based on the primary lending rate of People’s Bank of China. The unsecured loan was provided on December 10, 2014, and was originally due on December 10, 2017. During 2016, the Company repaid $6,012,416 to Mr. Zhenyong Liu, together with interest of $288,596. In February 2018, the company paid off the remaining balance, together with interest of $20,400. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, approximately $44,553 and $43,711 of interest was payable to Mr. Zhenyong Liu, which was recorded in other payables and accrued liabilities as part of the current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

On March 1, 2015, the Company entered an agreement with Mr. Zhenyong Liu which allows Dongfang Paper to borrow from the CEO an amount up to $17,821,341 (RMB120,000,000) for working capital purposes. The advances or funding under the agreement are due three years from the date each amount is funded. The loan is unsecured and carries an annual interest rate set on the basis of the primary lending rate of the People’s Bank of China at the time of the borrowing. On July 13, 2015, an unsecured amount of $4,324,636 was drawn from the facility. On October 14, 2016 an unsecured amount of $2,883,091 was drawn from the facility. In February 2018, the company repaid $1,507,432 to Mr. Zhenyong Liu. The loan would be originally due on July 12, 2018. Mr. Zhenyong Liu agreed to extend the loan for additional 3 years and the remaining balance will be due on July 12, 2021. On November 23, 2018, the company repaid $3,768,579 to Mr. Zhenyong Liu, together with interest of $158,651. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the outstanding loan balance were $2,227,668 and $2,185,569, respectively, and the accrued interest was $228,336 and $200,253, respectively, which was recorded in other payables and accrued liabilities as part of the current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, total amount of loans due to Mr. Zhenyong Liu were $2,227,668 and $2,185,569, respectively. The interest expense incurred for such related party loans are $24,316 and $112,472 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The accrued interest owe to the CEO was approximately $653,574 and $617,454, as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, which was recorded in other payables and accrued liabilities.

 

As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, amount due to shareholder are $269,193 and $210,148, respectively, which represents funds from shareholders to pay for various expenses incurred in the U.S. The amount is due on demand with interest free.

 

33

 

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Management makes these estimates using the best information available at the time the estimates are made. However, actual results could differ materially from those estimates. The most critical accounting policies are listed below:

 

Revenue Recognition Policy

 

The Company recognizes revenue when goods are delivered and a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the delivery is completed, no other significant obligations of the Company exist, and collectability is reasonably assured. Goods are considered delivered when the customer’s truck picks up goods at our finished goods inventory warehouse.

 

Long-Lived Assets

 

The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets and the related estimated remaining useful lives when events or circumstances lead management to believe that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets’ carrying amount. In such circumstances, those assets are written down to estimated fair value. Our judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on market conditions, assumptions for operational performance of our businesses, and possible government policy toward operating efficiency of the Chinese paper manufacturing industry. For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, no events or circumstances occurred for which an evaluation of the recoverability of long-lived assets was required. We are currently not aware of any events or circumstances that may indicate any need to record such impairment in the future.

 

Foreign Currency Translation

 

The functional currency of Dongfang Paper and Baoding Shengde is the Chinese Yuan Renminbi (“RMB”).  Under ASC Topic 830-30, all assets and liabilities are translated into United States dollars using the current exchange rate at the end of each fiscal period. The current exchange rates used by the Company as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 to translate the Chinese RMB to the U.S. Dollars are 6.7335:1 and 6.8632:1, respectively. Revenues and expenses are translated using the prevailing average exchange rates at 6.7087:1, and 6.3171:1 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Translation adjustments are included in other comprehensive income (loss).

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We were the guarantor for Baoding Huanrun Trading Co., for its long-term bank loans in an amount of $4,603,846 (RMB31,000,000), which matures at various times in in 2018 -2023. Baoding Huanrun Trading Co. is one of our major suppliers of raw materials. This helps us to maintain a good relationship with the supplier and negotiate for better terms in payment for materials. If Huanrun Trading Co. were to become insolvent, the Company could be materially adversely affected. Except as aforesaid, we have no material off-balance sheet transactions.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2016-13”). Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) amends guidelines on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost basis and available-for-sale debt securities. For assets held at amortized cost basis, Topic 326 eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current GAAP and, instead, requires an entity to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial assets to present the net amount expected to be collected. For available-for-sale debt securities, credit losses should be measured in a manner similar to current GAAP, however Topic 326 will require that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. ASU 2016-13 affects entities holding financial assets and net investment in leases that are not accounted for at fair value through net income. The amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables, and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. The amendments in this ASU will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-13 on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

34

 

 

Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

 

Foreign Exchange Risk

 

While our reporting currency is the US dollar, almost all of our consolidated revenues and consolidated costs and expenses are denominated in RMB. All of our assets are denominated in RMB except for some cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivables. As a result, we are exposed to foreign exchange risks as our revenues and results of operations may be affected by fluctuations in the exchange rate between US dollar and RMB. If the RMB depreciates against the US dollar, the value of our RMB revenues, earnings and assets as expressed in our US dollar financial statements will decline. We have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign exchange risk. 

 

Inflation

 

Although we are generally able to pass along minor incremental cost inflation to our customers, inflation such as increases in the costs of our products and overhead costs may adversely affect our operating results. We do not believe that inflation in China has had a material impact on our financial position or results of operations to date, however, a high rate of inflation in the future may have an adverse effect on our ability to maintain current levels of gross margin and selling and distribution, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues if the selling prices of our products do not increase in line with the increased costs.

 

Item 4.Controls and Procedures.

 

As required by Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended (the “Securities Act”), we have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, which were designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of March 31, 2019, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level to ensure (1) that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (2) information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes with respect to our internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting in the quarterly period ended March 31, 2019.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.Legal Proceedings.

 

None.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

Information about risk factors for the three months ended March 31, 2019, does not differ materially from that set forth in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

None.

 

Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

 

None.

 

Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.Other Information.

 

None.

 

Item 6.Exhibits.

 

(a) Exhibits

 

31.1   Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 and Rule 15d-14(a), promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
31.2   Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 and Rule 15d-14(a), promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32.1   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH   XBRL Schema Document
101.CAL   XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB   XBRL Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE   XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF   XBRL Definition Linkbase Document

 

36

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.
     
Date: May 9, 2019 /s/ Zhenyong Liu
  Name: Zhenyong Liu
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)
     
Date: May 9, 2019 /s/ Jing Hao
  Name:  Jing Hao
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

37